Self-reported prevalence and factors associated with nonadherence with glaucoma medications in veteran outpatients

The purpose of the current study was to determine the self-reported prevalence of and factors associated with nonadherence with glaucoma medications in veteran outpatients.

This survey study was conducted at a Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic. A survey was administered to patients with glaucoma. We calculated the percentage of self-reported adherence with glaucoma medications in each patient. Logistic regression was used to assess whether patient characteristics and difficulties with using glaucoma medications were related to patients' reporting that they were <100% adherent with their glaucoma medications in the previous week.

The survey was completed by 141 patients (men, 91.5%; mean [SD] age, 70.22 [11.60] years [range, 37-93 years]; black race, 45.4%; white race, 44.0%; "other" or data unavailable, 10.6%). Nonwhite patients were significantly less adherent in the previous week than were white patients (27.0% vs 11.3%; P < 0.05). A total of 67.4% patients reported > or =1 difficulty in using their glaucoma medications. The 3 most commonly reported difficulties were "drops fall on cheek" (29.1%), "too many drops come out" (20.6%), and "hard to read print" (17.0%). A total of 19.1% of patients self-reported using <100% of their glaucoma medications in the previous week. The number of difficulties reported was significantly associated with reporting being <100% adherent in the previous week (P<0.05).

In this small sample of VA patients with glaucoma, adherence to glaucoma medications could be improved, especially among those who reported difficulties using their medications and those who were nonwhite.